Pep Guardiola made a stunning comparison after Erling Haaland’s latest goalscoring display, putting the Norwegian in the same category as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but then pleaded for his other players to start pulling their weight.
Haaland’s two goals against Bournemouth took his season tally to 26, and Guardiola was quick to highlight the striker’s immense impact. “It’s like we have a Messi or a Ronaldo in the team, his effect is that big,” the City manager stated. “But we cannot just rely on him. We need goals from Foden, from Reijnders, from the others who gets chances.”
When pressed if Haaland is truly at that legendary level already, Guardiola was clear. “Of course he is. Just look at his numbers. The only difference is they did it for fifteen years. But right now, he is there. When he runs through and shoots like for the first goal, it’s like he is saying ‘I will score now’.”
A stat that will worry Guardiola is that in the Premier League, no other City player has managed to score more than a single goal this entire season. This over-reliance is something he is desperate to fix.
“He has that hunger, that is what makes him top,” Guardiola added. “I am sometimes tough on him but he listens. Without him it would be very difficult, but we are lucky that Omar is back and that several players is in good form.”
Haaland’s next challenge could be a emotional return to his former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, giving him another chance to continue his remarkable scoring run.